Bengaluru: Despite Dubai officials maintaining that superstar Sridevi died due to accidental drowning, the grieving public continues to wonder if she fell prey to society’s ‘impossible’ standards of beauty. The news that she gave in to slimming tablets and weight loss procedures did the rounds on social media, causing a minor panic amongst other women who use these products too.
Nutritionists, dieticians and wellness centres have had to deal with calls asking if their procedures, like cosmetic surgeries or botox can be a cause of death.
“We have been getting curious and concerned calls about whether surgeries or botox were a reason for Sridevi’s death and how risky these procedures are,” says Dr Chytra V Anand, Cosmetic Dermatolo gist, Kosmoderma Skin and Hair Clinics. “There have been no cancellations on procedures, but we have got anxious calls. I have been allaying their fears as non-surgical procedures cannot kill you. Only those who opt for repeated mega liposuction, that too at irregular intervals, could face complications.”
Experts in the field stress that slimming tablets and even going under the knife need not cause complications unless there are comorbid conditions.
Dr Ruby Sachdev, Head of Esthetics, VLCC Karnataka said, “We have been getting calls about Botulinum toxicity (BTX) which is found in Botox, not just from India but also abroad. The issue has given rise to concern, but since we deal with passive weight loss programmes and do not propagate the use of slimming pills, we haven’t got any calls along those lines.”
Asking people not to get caught in the hype, Dr Sujaya Hegde, of Dr Sujaya Hegde’s Dermatology Clinic pointed out that if these procedures were indeed life-threatening, they would not have been approved by the FDA in the first place. “Cosmetic procedures do not give rise to complications if they are followed properly. It is frustrating to see the kinds of reactions these rumours elicit from people.”
Ryan Fernando, a leading nutritionist and founder of Qua, said he has not received any calls. Explaining fat burners, he said, “There are various kinds available in the market. Those that are hormonal or steroid-based can affect the liver, kidney or heart. If there is repeated exposure or dosages it can mediate a condition of ill-health. In the worst case scenario, it can cascade into a potent recipe for death.”
